News Updates

Latest Steps to Prevent Hepatitis A

The Carlsbad City Council approved an "urgency ordinance" that temporarily allows after-hours access to six new handwashing stations and three existing portable restrooms with handwashing stations in city parks. The change, which will expire when the County of San Diego declares an end to the hepatitis A emergency, does not affect permanent restrooms in city parks, which will remain locked overnight. The ordinance also does not add any new portable restrooms in city parks.

An urgency ordinance goes into effect immediately, unlike a regular ordinance, which has a 30-day waiting period.

City parks are closed between 10 p.m. and 8 a.m. The ordinance allows access during this these times solely for use of available handwashing stations and portable restrooms.

Parks affected

County-provided hand washing stations were recently placed in the following parks:

Magee Park

Maxton Brown Park

Holiday Park

Pine Avenue Community Park

Alga Norte Community Park

Stagecoach Community Park

Three city parks do not have permanent restroom facilities. They instead have portable restrooms with handwashing stations. These portable restrooms are already open 24 hours a day.

Cannon Park

Hosp Grove Park

Zone 5 Park

The City of Carlsbad Police Department will increase enforcement at these parks to ensure any after-hours use complies with the new ordinance.

The County of San Diego declared a local public health emergency on Sept. 1, 2017, due to a hepatitis A outbreak in the county. The county is taking the lead in containing the outbreak focusing on vaccination, sanitation and education. The City of Carlsbad is coordinating with county health officials and following all of the recommended steps to help protect public health, including:

Educate the public and city employees about the outbreak and how to prevent infection.

Work with the county to arrange free vaccinations for those most at risk in the community.

Increase cleaning of city operated restrooms and confirm they are well stocked and in good working order.

Increase cleaning and disinfection of public places, as needed.Place handwashing stations and temporary portable restrooms in public locations as needed.

Coordinate any additional precautions needed with the County of San Diego.

In addition to the efforts to prevent hepatitis A infections, the city has hired two dedicated homeless outreach team members within the Police Department to develop relationships, coordinate with service providers, facilitate resource referrals and focus on enforcement of laws that protect Carlsbad’s health, safety and quality of life.

In October, the City Council approved a long term plan to contract with local social service providers to enhance their case work within Carlsbad, increase coordination with other agencies in the region and work with developers to create additional housing opportunities.

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